As the legislative session draws to a possible close, “mini budget” bills continue to make their way through the process.

The most important for state employees and retirees is House Bill 231, which gives a half-percent bonus in each of the next two years to retirees and contains money for UNC and community college employee raises. It passed the Senate this week and must now go back through the House before being sent to the governor to sign.

The fight is not over on either of these matters. SEANC continues to ask legislators for 2.5% for EHRA and SHRA employees at our colleges and universities, and have been working closely with legislative leaders and the University system to accomplish this. We are also pushing for an increase in the retiree bonus to 2% each year. You can help. If you haven’t already, reach out to your legislators to tell them you deserve a respectable raise by clicking here.

DPS prison board issues report

The issue of prison reform continues to make headlines as the session nears an end as well. The Department of Public Safety’s Prison Reform Advisory Board issued its final report and recommendations this week. SEANC Past President Stanley Drewery (pictured) served on the board.

DPS Prison Commissioner Todd Ishee eported to the Senate Select Committee on Prison Safety that every day two staff members are victimized by an assault from an inmate. At that same meeting, SEANC Government Relations Director Ardis Watkins spoke out against DPS’s plan to close three facilities and relocate 800 inmates.

"The more people you shove in there, the more problems you're going to have. How much longer are you going to wait to fix this?" she asked. "Something has to be done right now in terms of salary."